Mo₃S₁₃²⁻ Intercalated Layered Double Hydroxide: Highly Selective Removal of Heavy Metals and Simultaneous Reduction of Ag⁺ Ions to Metallic Ag⁰ Ribbons

We demonstrate a new material by intercalating Mo₃S₁₃²⁻ into Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (abbr. Mo₃S₁₃-LDH), exhibiting excellent capture capability for toxic Hg²⁺ and noble metal silver (Ag). The as-prepared Mo₃S₁₃-LDH displays ultra-high selectivity of Ag⁺, Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in the presence of various competitive ions, with the order of Ag⁺>Hg²⁺>Cu²⁺>Pb²⁺≥Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺. For Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺, extremely fast adsorption rates (≈90 % within 10 min, >99 % in 1 h) are observed. Much high selectivity is present for Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺, especially for trace amounts of Ag⁺ (≈1 ppm), achieving a large separation factor (SF_Ag/Cu) of ≈8000 at the large Cu/Ag ratio of 520. The overwhelming adsorption capacities for Ag⁺ (q_m^Ag=1073 mg g⁻¹) and Hg²⁺ (q_m^Hg=594 mg g⁻¹) place the Mo₃S₁₃-LDH at the top of performing sorbent materials. Most importantly, Mo₃S₁₃-LDH captures Ag⁺ via two paths: a) formation of Ag₂S due to Ag-S complexation and precipitation, and b) reduction of Ag⁺ to metallic silver (Ag⁰). The Mo₃S₁₃-LDH is a promising material to extract low-grade silver from copper-rich minerals and trap highly toxic Hg²⁺ from polluted water.